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A judge in Spain handed
down a novel sentence recently to a factory-owner who had contaminated the
environment (a local river). By obliging the man to attend classes on the
fragility of the environment, the judge was able to waive the initial
sentence-a six-month-spell in jail.

Get students to comment
on the above punishment and crime. This should spark a good deal of chat.

My students then went on
to say that:

The decision was a good idea

The decision was too lenient

He should go to jail as well

He should also pay a heavy fine

He should carry out community work/service

Pay towards the cost of a purification plant

Now get your students to
suggest other forms of punishing the man/polluters in general.

Activity B

Imagine the above person
had caused poisonous substances to be dumped into a local river, killing 10,000
fish in the process: how can he be punished? Order him to restock the river?
Close the factory? And the workers? A huge fine could drive him out of
business? Get the students to debate on the concept of work versus that of the
environment (which is more important at the end of the day?); this always
generates excellent conversation.

Activity C

Survey: Have you damaged the environment in any way?

All of the students will
say no, initially, until you mention little things like throwing away paper,
smoking, and so on. As usual, if the student cannot remember any recent action,
get him to go back in time--or he or she can relate an anecdote involving a
friend or a neighbor. This should be a moment of gentle provocation, not an
interrogation. My students related the following:

Emptying my ashtray in an isolated mountain car park

Changing the oil of my car in a lay by

Using sprays, although I did not realize their noxious effects

Washing dishes in a river (while camping), using
non-environmentally friendly liquid

Throwing batteries away

Smoking

Driving

If they cannot think of
any personal story, get them to list off how we-or a neighbor-as ordinary
citizens, may be polluting the planet without realizing it.

Activity D

A survey on "Who is
most concerned about the environment" produced the following results (from
"most concerned" down):

Finland

Germany

Japan

UK

Spain

Korea

USA

Russia

Turkey

India

Nigeria

Mexico

Venezuela

Do they believe this?

You could give this list
of countries to your students and ask them to comment on above, as well as
simply describe a country they think is very ecology-conscious. They can talk
about their own countries, and how their fellow countrymen and government are
tackling environmental issues.

Activity E

Finish the sentences:

If I saw somebody throwing an empty packet on the
street, I would ...

If I discovered the factory I worked in was secretly
polluting the environment, I would ...

If I were minister for the Environment, I would ...

If I had to do without perfume/deodorant, I would ...

If I were a fish, I would ...

If I were a fisherman, I would ...

If I could not eat tinned tuna fish, I would ...

If I lived on an island, I would ...

If a nuclear bomb exploded, I would ...

If they tried to build a nuclear power station near my
house, I would ...

If I lived in a jungle, I would ...

If I were an endangered species, I would ...

If I had to light my fire with either coal or wood, I
would ...

If I had to travel to work by car or by public
transport, I would ...

If I wanted to dump a box of rubbish, but I could not
find a bin, I would ..

If the local council were planning to build a dump near
my house, I would ..